Description
Classic Oatmeal Cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with comforting flavors of brown sugar, cinnamon, and hearty oats. Perfectly golden on the outside with a tender center, these timeless cookies make a perfect snack, dessert, or lunchbox treat. Enjoy them plain or customize with your favorite add-ins like raisins, chocolate chips, or nuts for a delightful twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
Optional Add-Ins
- 1 cup raisins, chocolate chips, or chopped nuts
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 2 to 3 minutes using a mixer.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then mix in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and spices.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined to avoid overmixing which can toughen the cookies.
- Incorporate Oats and Optional Add-Ins: Stir in the rolled oats and your choice of optional ingredients such as raisins, chocolate chips, or nuts evenly into the dough.
- Form Cookies: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown but the centers are still soft.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, which helps them set properly.
Notes
- For extra chewy cookies, slightly underbake them and let them finish setting on the pan.
- You can chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to achieve thicker cookies.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week to maintain freshness.
